Sam Schmidt Racing to Recovery Gala draws Indy 500 big names

May 23, 2013

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Nancy George attends the annual Sam Schmidt Gala at The Crane Bay Wednesday May 22, 2013. The Gala is a fundraiser for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Chris Bergin/ for The Star / Chris Bergin / for The Star

Megan Krisiloff, center, attends the Annual Sam Schmidt Gala at The Crane Bay Wednesday May 22, 2013. The Gala is a fundraiser for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Chris Bergin/ for The Star / Chris Bergin / for The Star

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IndyCar’s community of drivers, motor sports executives and members of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Hulman-George family gathered Wednesday in Downtown Indianapolis to observe a 14-year Indy 500 tradition: The Racing to Recovery Gala, benefiting the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.

The annual event, which is focused on raising research money, in part celebrates Schmid, a race car driver-turned team owner who became a quadriplegic after a January 2000 crash in Florida.

Schmidt attended the soiree at The Crane Bay event center, which involved food, drinks and live and silent auctions. His team of Indy 500 drivers, Tristan Vautier, Katherine Legge and Simon Pagenaud, were there, too, as well as this year’s Indy 500 pole sitter, Ed Carpenter.

“It’s humbling. It’s inspiring. It’s motivational. I mean it was a pretty dramatic time when I got hurt 14 years ago almost, and the motor sports community and my family were just really supportive,” Schmidt said. “So seeing the support of this event continue this much longer is really special.”

The party, which aimed to raise about $350,000, also honored Al Speyer, executive director of motorsports for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, who is retiring in June. Speyer, who attended the party, received the event’s Legend of Racing Award.

Meanwhile, big names in Indianapolis and the racing community mingled. Racing personality Linda Vaughn, in town from her home in Laguna Beach, Calif., was there with her pal, Nancy George.

Vaughn said she supported Schmidt’s cause and she loves artwork, which was auctioned at the gala.

“But most of all I love Sam. I thought Sam was a wonderful competitor,” she said. “When he was injured I was always there to support him.”

Contact Cathy Kightlinger at (317) 444-6067 and follow her on Twitter @ckightlinger.